Breast tuberculosis- clinical spectrum and management

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Breast tuberculosis is an infrequent manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
• Understanding its diverse clinical features and diagnostic methods is crucial for timely management.
• This condition, while uncommon, requires clinical suspicion for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the clinical spectrum, diagnostic workup, and treatment strategies for breast tuberculosis.
• To analyze the demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics of patients with breast tuberculosis.
• To evaluate the efficacy of diagnostic modalities and treatment outcomes in breast tuberculosis.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 63 consecutive patients diagnosed with breast tuberculosis was conducted.
• Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results, histopathology findings, and treatment regimens.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify trends and significant findings.

Main Results:

• The study included 98.41% female patients, with 49.20% under 30 years old and 68.25% from rural areas.
• The most common presentation was a painless breast lump (73%), with nodulocaseous disease in 74.60%.
• FNAC demonstrated high sensitivity (74.60%), while biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in 25.39% of cases. Primary TB focus was noted in lungs (11.1%) or loco-regional lymph nodes (46.03%).

Conclusions:

• Breast tuberculosis is a treatable condition, predominantly affecting young women, often presenting as a painless lump.
• FNAC is a valuable diagnostic tool, and anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) is the cornerstone of management.
• Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment lead to favorable outcomes in breast tuberculosis patients.